Okay, so my goal in writing this blog was to publish something every month. Well, so much for good intentions. I greatly underestimated how much time it takes to launch a book. No wonder people sign with publishers. It takes a lot of effort to make folks aware that there is one more book out there among the thousands. Thank God I have awesome friends and family. I have been blessed with their support and encouragement. But still, at the end of the day, I not only have to knock on a lot of doors, but I have to do this while writing the sequel to THE UGLY TEAPOT. Of course, from what everyone tells me, signing with a publisher isn't like it used to be. They've dramatically cut back on the money they used to invest in publicizing their books, unless you're Stephen King, of course. So the jury is still out on whether self-publishing is for me. I will tell you this. Don't believe what anyone tells you about the barriers against self-publishing coming down. There is still a lot, and I do mean a lot, of prejudice against those who go it alone. In their defense, their prejudice might be justified. I haven't been in their position and had to wade through manuscripts filled with typos and mistakes. I just know for those of us out here who are trying to be professional about it, it is an uphill battle.

Which, finally, brings me to the point of this month's blog--hubris. I was notified today that my book had received its second 5-Star Review. Then I ran a Nielsen Bookscan and saw that at only two months out, my little teapot was already in 15 cities all over the United States. That may not sound very impressive to you, but to me it is absolutely amazing. Seriously, I had no idea anyone would want to read a story I created out of nothing. And to be honest, I'm a little embarrassed by even trying it. Who am I to think that I have something new and unusual and worthwhile to say? Certainly something worth people's time and money. It seems to me that I have to be awfully self-centered to think that I do. And the only thing that makes me even want to make the attempt is my remembrance of those books that transported me out of a disappointing childhood into a world that was so much better. So I guess I'll keep trying, in hopes that I, too, might be able to make a difference in someone else's life.

See you next time!